Good information Guys, I know what to use myself in future.
Cheers 😑

HI Tall Paul
There are other identical products to Stabilit Express.
UHU Plus Acrylit 2 is identical and available from Cornwall Model Boats. Mayhem articles on the same topic indicate that 5 Star adhesives also offer a product, probably based on methacrylate.
As Gregg says you need to roughen the styrene surface, this allows the glue to bond correctly into the styrene monomer.
I used to fly model gliders and can honestly say that Stabilit joints between wood (balsa/ply) and plastic never failed, even after my best efforts to destroy my planes on landings (er crashes) the glued joints remained intact 😀

HI Gregg
I think you mean expanded polystyrene.
Plasticard is a hard plastic, it's industrial name is High Impact Polystyrene Sheet (this is NOT expanded polystyrene). 😀

Stabilit Express !

I use it all the time [see my Mersey build thread for examples].
Kindly make sure you sand the styrene first, to get a "rough edge", to help the resin adhere fully.

the glue is a 2 part mix, comes with a set of 3 differt sizes of "glue pot", so you simply use a different size as per you "mix" needs. put the number of "level" spoons in to the mixing pot, then fill up with the resin out of the tube, mix "caefully" untill all the powder is mixed in, or you will get a bit of a "cloud" !
you have about 10 minutes of movement time and dry in 2 hours. fully cured in 24 hrs and you can drill it, sand it, thread it if you so wish.
FULLY waterproof and rock solid once cured.
I have no hesitation in recommending it, it will stick virtually anything to anything and does not deteriorate with age. I bought an old boat, must of been 15 yrs old when I bought it, and that had been built with stabilit express, and the bonds were just as good as new joins. I am yet to get a joint of this stuff to break, usually the wood or styrene either side of the glue breaks first.


have attached a few picture examples of its use for you.

put it this way, IF this glue does not "do" the job you want it to, I'LL buy it off you ! thats how much I'd put money on it doing the job you want it for.

best of luck and remember to keep us posted on your build.

HI Gregg,
Thanks for that - yes it is Evergreen White Styrene Sheet which I was intending to use for the superstructure (Humbrol poly cement) and for hull sides with plywood hull bulkheads etc.

Have since read book by Richard Webb "Making Model Boats with Styrene" ; he recommends Evostick Fusion OR Stabilit Express

Another model boat expert recommended using cyanoacrylate (have found Loctite superglue)

Unless others have better suggestions will try these from Screfix down the road (No decent model boat shop in Camberley, Surrey).

Polystyrene is a bit of an unusual item to make boats out of, people use it inside as a bouyancy aid, incase of an accident. but it is such a soft material for external use and breaks/snaps too easily.
Are you sure you dont mean "Styrene" as in plastic type sheets ?

G'Day Tall Paul,

If all else fails I use "Liquid Nails". it sticks anything to anything. I use it on all my boats in one part or another. Check out your hardware store! it is waterproof and once stuck it stays stuck. if you happen to use a little too much it wips down with water, giving a very smooth finish.
hope this is of some use mate.

Taffy